Saatchi Gallery - Collect Exhibition 2018
I visited the Saatchi Gallery's "Collect" exhibition last year and found it immensely inspiring for my university work, so decided to take the chance to visit again this year. As well as using this exhibit for project inspiration, it was also highly useful to be able to observe and research what the exhibitors were creating and how they were pricing their works as, although I want to graduate specialising in interiors, I will be making my own products and crafts to sell to the public in the coming months in the Swansea Zine Fest 2018, being held at the Volcano Theatre, and Gold Hill Fair 2018, which is a large fair in my hometown in Shaftesbury, Dorset. Although my brand is not as well recognised as the exhibitors at the "Collect" exhibit it did give me some ideas and confidence to be able to market my own products.
Some interesting artists and makers that stood out to me at the "Collect" exhibit included David Bielander. Bielander had some interesting objects on display, but the ones that caught my eye were the Cardboard Bracelet and the Paper Bag (Sugar), these two objects looked as though they were made from cardboard and paper but in fact are casts made from silver with white gold accents. The fact that these objects looked rather dull and average from a distance made them all the more interesting, and when I found out they were made from such a precious metal it surprised me. I think that changing the viewers perception and perhaps fooling onlookers is exactly what this artist was going for when creating the pieces.
Another maker/ designer that caught my attention was OS AND OOS. This brand was exhibiting a collection titled "Repeated Mirrors", thee mirrors consisted of layers of coloured glass that reflected the viewers image. The colours used were pastels and greys and the shapes were rounded yet abstracted from the circular piece situated in the centre of each composition. The brand itself, after deeper research, tends to use simplicity and minimalism as a key theme in their designs, setting themselves apart from the basic by incorporating abstract shapes and comfortable pastel tones.
During my time in London I also managed to explore King's Road to source more inspiration for my current project, including wallpaper and fabric samples, and photographs from interior stores. All in all I would highly recommend visiting the "Collect" exhibition to any aspiring designer or maker to take in the current work and to gauge the market for handmade pieces.
